Film-feeding mechanism.



E. SCHNEIDER.

FILM FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I8, I910- 1,165,629. Patented Dec.28,1910.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

E. SCHNEIDER.

FILM FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I8, 1910. 1,165,629.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

E. SCHNEIDER.

FILM FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1910. 1,165,629. Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

4 SHETSSHEET 3.

Ex SCHNElDER.

FILM FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1910.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

adjustable bracket 15. from the bracket 15 and is connected to theEBERHABD SCHNEIDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FILM-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

Application filed May 18, 1910. Serial No. 562,057.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EBERI-IARD SCHxEmEn, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough ofManhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Film-Feeding Mechanism,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to film controlling and steadying devices forconsecutive view photographic or projecting apparatus. Its specificobject relates to the film controlling and propelling appurtenanceswhich bring the films in proper positions and at the proper times in theaxial line of the lens used in conjunction therewith.

One of its essential objects is to maintain said film taut before thewindow of the apparatus without the usual excessive pressure on the filmcaused by the door of the window of the apparatus bearing thereon. Thepressure against the film as it passes the window is reduced to aminimum and consequently the liability of scratching or otherwiseinjuring the film is lessened.

Another object of the invention is the elimination of loops in the filmduring its propulsion between the reels of the apparatus.

Figure 1 represents a side view of a projecting apparatus with oneformof the invention incorporated therein, Fig. 2 shows a section ofFig. 1 on the line 22, Fig. 2 shows a section of Fig. 2 on the line 2,2, Fig. 3 represents a top plan View of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 represents a sideview of the essential elements of the invention, and Fig. 5 shows a viewsimilar to Fig. 4 with a modification of the invention. 4

In the drawings 10 represents the base plate from which extend thestanchions 11, 12, the upper ends of which latter are connected by thebracket 13. The base plate 10 supports a pin 14 on which is pivoted theA frame 16 extends adjustable sleeve 17 carried on the stanchion 12. Inthe bracket 15 is journaled the drivbevel pinion 30 that meshes with thebevel gear 31 on the horizontal shaft 32, journaled in the upper portionof the frame 16. The ratio of the diameter of the bevel pinion 30 to thebevel gear 31 is 1 to 4. The shaft 32 carries at one end the sprocketwheel 33 and at the other the feeding sprocket drum 34. Tension rollers35 are journaled in an adustable tension bracket 36, which latter at oneend is pivoted by means of the pivot 37 to the frame 16, and has bearingagainst its swinging end the spring 38. A tension arm 42 is pivoted on apin 43 supported on the bracket 13 secured to thestanchions 11. Theswinging end of the arm 42 has journaled thereon the tension roller 45and a buffer rod 46 is pivoted thereon. The said rod extends through thebracket 13, a buffer spring 47 hearing between the roof of the bracket13 and the knurled nut 48 on the rod.

On the cross shaft 23 of the frame 16 is secured the spur gear 50 whichmeshes with a pinion 51 carried on the shaft 52 journaled in the frame16. The shaft 52 also carries the fly wheel 53 on one end. and a bevelgear 54 on the other end thcr'of meshes with-a bevel gear 55 carried onihe vertical-shaft 56. The latter shaft at its upper end is journaled inthe lens support 57 and its lower end is journaled in the swingingbracket 58. The bracket 58 is hinged on the shaft 52. The shaft 56carries a bevel gear 65 that meshes with a bevel gear 66 on the shutterspindle 67 carrying the shutter 68. The lens support 57 is carried onthe stanchion 12 and has journaled thereon the guide roller 69. A diskwheel 75 is carried on the shaft 52 and has extending therefrom the pin76 that engages a star wheel 77 fastened on a spindle 78 journaled inthe frame 16. The spindle 78 carries the lower sprocket feed drum 79.Tension rollers 80 are journaled in an adjustable "tension bracket 81and bear on the said lower sprocket feed drum 79. The bracket 81 ispivoted to the frame 16 and a spring 82 extends between the bracket 81and a pin 83 on the frame 16. A spindle 85 is journaled on the lowerpart of the frame 16 and carries a third sprocket drum 86.

Tension rollers 87 are journaled in an adjustable tension bracket 88that is pivoted to the frame 16 and a spring 89 extends between saidbracket and the in 83. The frame 16 has extending there rom a pin 92which engages a tension arm 93 that carrles on its outer end the tensionroller 94. A bracket 95 is supported on the frame 16 and guides a bufferrod 96, that is pivoted to the tension arm 93. A knurled nut 97 is 1nthreaded engagement with the outer end of the buffer rod 96 and a bufier spring 98 bears between said bracket 95 and knurled nut 97. On theouter end of the spindle 85 is fastened a sprocket wheel 99 for thechain 100 that connects with the sprocket wheel 33.

A film 105 having holes not shown that register with the teeth of thesprocket drums is fed over the feeding sprocket drum 34, then over thetension roller 45 in the path of the window of the lens support 57. Thefilm then engages with the lower sprocket feed drum 79 over the tensionroller 94 to the third sprocket drum 86.

In Fig. 5 the invention ismodified by substituting a pair of ellipticalgears 110 and 111 for the disk wheel 75 and the star wheel 77, totransmit a variable velocity ratio from the shaft 52 to the spindle 78.The elliptical gear 111 turns on the shaft 112 and carries the pinion113 which latter meshes with the spur gear 112 that is carried on thespindle 78. When the pinion 113 makes one revolution, the spur gear 114makes one quarter revolution. The pitch diameters of the bevel pinion 30and bevel gears 31, as well as the pitch diameters of the pinion 113 andgear 114 are in the ratio of 1 to 4. The film is thus moved across thewindow of the apparatus during one quarter of a revolution of each ofthe drums 34 and 78, the rotations of the said drums being practicallysynchronized with each other so as to avoid the necessity of any loopstherein. Tn this modification the elliptical gears 27 and 28 areretained.

To operate the invention motion is transmitted from the driving shaft 18to the cross shaft 23 through the spur gear 21 and pinion 22. The bevelgear 24 on the shaft 23 rotates the shaft 25 through the bevel gear 26,and thereby the elliptical gear 27 rotates the elliptical gear 28.Motion is transmitted to the spindle 29 and its bevel pinion 30. Thelatter pinion meshing with the bevel gear 31 rotation is transmitted tothe horizontal shaft 32. The latter shaft 32 making one revolution whilethe spindle 29- makes four revolutions. The sprocket wheel 33 transmitsmotion to the sprocket wheel 99 through the chain 100, and thereby thethird sprocket drum 86 revolves with-the same number of revolutions asthe feeding sprocket drum 34. When the cross shaft 23 revolves motion istransmitted to the shaft 52 through the spur gear 50 and pinion 51. Bymeans of the bevel gears 54, 55, 65 and 66 the shutter 68 is operated.The diskv .wheel 77.

During the downward movement of the film 105 the tension roller 45 andthe tension arm 42 take up any slack of the same between said roller andthe feeding sprocket drum 34 and the lower sprocket feed drum 79avoiding any loops in said fihn.- The variable velocity ratiotransmitted from the vertical shaft 25 to the spindle 29 through theintervention of the elliptic gears 27 and 28 rotates the feedingsprocket drum 34 at variable speeds of rotation, for each rotationthereof. The tension roller 45 always maintains the film 105 tautirrespective of the speed of the drum 34 and the winding up or taking inof the lower sprocket feed drum 79. The buffer spring 47 connected upwith the arm 42 prevents any tremor of the roller 45. The star wheel 77stops and starts the film at the proper times before the window of themachine in the focal axis of the lens.

The tension roller 94 on the tension arm 93 maintains the film tautbetween the lower sprocket feed drum 79 and the third sprocket drum 86,and the buffer spring 98 prevents any tremor of the tension roller 94.

With both forms of the invention it will be noted that the ellipticalgears when their rotations are properly timed with the shutter of theapparatus that the film moves rapidly across the window when the shuttercuts off the light passing therethrough, and that when the light passesthrough the window the film can practically be considered at rest.

It will be noted that the variable speed imparted to the drum 34 bymeans of the elliptical gears 27, 28 pulls the film without tremor fromthe feeding or supply reel and therefore avoids injuring the film on thesprockets of the drum 34, and at the same time supplies it as requiredfor the sprocket drum 79. The roller 45 maintains the film taut betweenthe two drums, and obviates the necessity of a loop in the film afterleaving the drum 34. The taut film avoids the necessity ofintermittently tightly clamping the film in the field of the lens of theapparatus, and thereby avoids the injury due to such clamping. A filmthat is uniformly pulled from its feed reel must be looped to coact withthe intermittent motion given to it by drum as indicated at 79. Theclamping causes the film to-be injured on account of the inertia of thefilm when clamped to hold it at rest in the field of the lens. Theroller 45 by reason of being movable with the swinging of the tensionarm 42, coacts with the elliptical gears 27 and 28, by taking up anyslack in the 'film 105, as the latter is moved with a variable speed.

Having described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patentand claim is;

1. In a film controlling devicethe combination of a pair of sprocketdrums for a film, means to impart a variable speed to one of said drumsduring each revolution thereof, means to rotate the second drum inunison with the first drum and means to maintain said film taut.

2. In a film controlling device the combination of a feeding sprocketdrum for a film, a pair of elliptical gears to impart a variable speedof rotation to the drum, a second sprocket drum to receive the filmdelivered from the first drum, means to rotate the second drum with therequisite speed of rotation, a roller bearing against the film toautomatically maintain the film taut between the drums.

3. In a film controlling device the combination of a feeding sprocketdrum for a film, a pair of elliptical gears connected up with said drumto impart thereto a variable speed of rotation, a tension arm pivoted inthe machine, a roller journaled in the arm and bearing against said filmto maintain it taut with said feeding drum, a lower sprocket feed drumjournaled in the machine, means to rotate the latter drum, a secondtension arm pivoted in the machine, a tension roller journaled in saidsecond arm bearing against the film to maintain it taut.

4,. In a film controlling device the combination of a sprocket feed drumfor a film, elliptical gears connected up with said drum to impartthereto a variable speed of rotation, a tension arm pivoted in theapparatus, a roller journaled in the arm and bearing against said filmto maintain it taut with said sprocket feed drum.

5. In a film controlling device the combination of a shaft, a disk wheelon the shaft, :1 pin on the disk wheel, a star wheel journaled adjacentto the first shaft in the path of said pin, a lower sprocket feed drumconnected up with the star wheel, a feeding sprocket drum carriedonahorizontal shaft, a driving shaft journaled in the apparatus, a pairof elliptical gears connected up between the driving shaft and thefeeding sprocket drum, and connections between the driving shaft and thedisk wheel, a tension arm pivoted in the apparatus, a roller journaledon the tension arm bearing against a film engaging the drums and takingup the slack of said film.

6. In a film controlling device the combination of a pair of ellipticalgears, sprocket drums connected up with said elliptical gears to imparta variable speed of rotation to the said drums.

7. In a film controlling device the combination of a feeding sprocketdrum journaled in the-apparatus to engage a film, a lower sprocket feeddrum journaled in the apparatus to next engage said film, a thirdsprocket drum journaled in the apparatus to thirdly engage said film, adriving shaft journaled in the apparatus, a pair of elliptical gearsconnected up between the said first named feedin sprocket drum and saidshaft, connections between the driving shaft and the second drum torotate the latter, and means to rotate the third sprocket drum.

8. In a film controlling device the combination of a feeding sprocketdrum journaled in the apparatus to engage a film, a lower sprocket feeddrum journaled in the apparatus to next engage said film, a thirdsprocket drum journaled in the apparatus to thirdly engage said film, adriving shaft journaled in the apparatus, a pair of elliptical gearsconnected up between the said first named feeding sprocketdrum and saidshaft, connections between the driving shaft and the second drum torotate the latter, and means to rotate the third sprocket drum, atension roller bearing on the film adjacent to the feeding sprocketdrum, and a tension roller bearing on the film adjacent to the thirddrum.

9. In a film controlling device the combination of a driving shaft,afeeding sprocket drum journaled in the apparatus for a film, a tensionarm pivoted above the drum, a tension roller journaled in the armbearing against the film, a buffer spring in the apparatus for said arm,a second lower sprocket drum journaled in the apparatus engaging thefilm, a third sprocket drum journaled in the apparatus engaging thefilm, a second buffer spring connected up with the apparatus adjacent tothe second and third drums. a tension arm coacting with the secondbuffer spring, a roller journaled in the second tension arm bearingagainst the film, a driving shaft journaled in the apparatus, a pair ofelliptical gears connected up between said shaft and one of said drums,connections between the drum that eoacts with said gears and one of theother drums, and connections between the driving shaft and the remainingdrum.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan in the county of New York and Stateof New York this 11th day of May A. l). 1910.

EBERlIARD SCHNEIDER- [L- 8.]

Witnesses:

A. A. on BONNEVILLE, MAn'riN ZIMANSKY.

